Weather permitting, we'll be running our annual field trip to Greenscoombe Wood to see the Heath Fritillaries this Sunday (7th June). All are welcome to join (including from across the Tamar)! www.cornwall-butterfly-conservation.org.uk/events.html

4 species of fritillary today but didn't capture the ragged pearl bordered fritillary. 3 in @bcdevon.bsky.social and 1 in @bc-cornwall.bsky.social . Gotta love the fritillaries in the south west. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

We are rooting for the Marsh Fritillary to appear on the new banknotes! #TeamMarshFritillary 🦋 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ian Howarth reports 20 Heath Fritillaries at Greenscombe Wood today - one of the UK’s rarest butterflies—near extinction in the 1970s, now recovering thanks to conservation. Also: Small Heath, Ringlet, Red Admiral and ~24 Painted Ladies. Thanks to Ian for his photo/report. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social

Silver-studded Blue numbers are starting to build at Upton Towans.

Sightings of Marsh Fritillary have been coming in this last week. Why not join our field trips to Goonhilly Downs (4th June) or Church Hay Down (9th June) to see this beautiful butterfly for yourself? All welcome! www.cornwall-butterfly-conservation.org.uk/events.html

Large skippers have been flying in Cornwall for a couple of weeks now. The male has a thick black line through the centre of the upper forewing—actually a scent brand used to attract females. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social

Marsh fritillaries flying today on Bodmin Moor. Living in damp meadows and boggy grassland, needing Devil’s-bit Scabious to survive. Like the pearl-bordered and small pearl-bordered fritillaries, they're under threat—with populations down 66% in England since 1990. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social

Silver-studded Blues are now flying in Cornwall!

Bunny’s Hill, Cardinham, this morning: a whopping 217 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in just 45 minutes, in blazing temperatures. Absolutely incredible. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

We've had lots of sightings of Painted Ladies over the Bank Holiday weekend!

Incredible (and rather sad) scenes along the south coast.

Hunting for Dingy Skippers amongst the post-industrial and mining sites along the Red River this afternoon.

Pearls still around on Bodmin Moor. Numbers seriously down, though. Increasing numbers of Small Pearls. Too hot!! @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @saverflies.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social

A trip up to Bodmin Moor yesterday to visit Pendrift and Fellover. Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are still flying at both sites (though looking a bit worn), and they are now in the company of lots of fresh-looking Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary season is winding down here in Cornwall (though they are still flying on Bodmin Moor).

Our friends @britishdragonflies.bsky.social would like folks to keep an eye out for Black Darter.

A Silver-studded Blue caterpillar in the company of its symbiotic Lasius niger ants at Wheal Maid last Sunday.

Which Cornish butterfly will you be voting for? Might it be the jewel-like Silver-studded Blue or perhaps the fiery Pearl-bordered Fritillary? Maybe the Marsh Fritillary has caught your eye with its intricate stained glass wings, or does your heart leap at the sight of a brilliant Brimstone?

While their caterpillars rely entirely on violets, adult Pearl-bordered Fritillaries need plenty of early spring nectar to fuel their flights. Bugle, dandelion, bluebells are vital, and they also happily visit newly blossomed bird's-foot-trefoil. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social

Which Cornish butterfly will you be voting for? Might it be the jewel-like Silver-studded Blue or perhaps the fiery Pearl-bordered Fritillary? Maybe the Marsh Fritillary has caught your eye with its intricate stained glass wings, or does your heart leap at the sight of a brilliant Brimstone?

An update on the habitat management trials that we have been running for our Jewels in the Cornish Mining Landscape project.

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation's field trip to Pendrift on Bodmin Moor today was special: 70 Pearl‑bordered Fritillaries seen, plus 7 Small PBFs. A lovely sight but seeing Small PBFs reminds us sadly our Pearls have only a few days left to fly. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Pearl-bordered fritillary nectaring on bluebell at Fellover Brake, Bodmin Moor. Following a very wet winter, cold easterly winds the past few weeks, and only the occasional sunny spell, numbers are running well below typical levels. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cornwall.bsky.social

The field trip season kicks off this Sunday (10th May)! Join us at De Lank on Bodmin Moor as we go in search of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. All welcome! For more information and our full programme of planned field trips, visit www.cornwall-butterfly-conservation.org.uk/events.html

Next generation of Painted Ladies being laid along the Cornish coast today. Not vast numbers, c 5 every ten mins on the Lizard coast. @bc-cornwall.bsky.social

There's been a very noticeable arrival of migrant butterflies to Cornwall this last week. I counted six Painted Ladies and four Red Admirals on a short walk through the lanes near Helston this afternoon.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary snacking on Sheep's-bit. One of 44 seen on Cornish coast path this morning. Rain on the way unfortunately. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social

Pearl-bordered fritillaries are finally out on Bodmin Moor. In Cornwall they first appear on the Coast Path near Looe, then at Marsland near Bude, and finally on Bodmin – a sequence shaped by altitude, temperature, exposure and microclimate. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cornwall.bsky.social

Pearl-bordered Fritillaries on the undercliffs at Murrayton this morning. At this coastal site, they make use of glades created by the frequent landslips.

It's a busy time of year for our Pearl-bordered Fritillary Species Champions Liz and Andrew!

Strong cold easterly winds on Cornwall Coast Path for over a week. Yet Pearl-bordered Fritillaries show big spirit! 20 seen today—small in size, but mighty! Come on you Pearls! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cornwall.bsky.social @marcusrhodes.bsky.social

Our first Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are on the wing!

UKBMS results out today! Results from fifty years of butterfly monitoring! The UKBMS data reveals declines in 33 species over the last 50 years. Check out the full story below butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo... And the full 2025 statistics can be found here: jncc.gov.uk/our-work/off...

WEEK ONE! The UKBMS surveys officially kick off today 🎺 🥳 🦋 If you're taking part, check the weather and choose a good day for your survey this week - temps above 13degrees, sun and light winds are best. Weeks run from each Wednesday to the following Tuesday this year. Good luck!

Lovely fresh Holly Blue on the coast path near Falmouth in Cornwall today. And my first Swallows to grace the spring

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation have made the move to Bluesky! We'll use this account to share Branch news, events, and conservation activities, and we would love to hear about your butterfly and moth sightings from across Cornwall.